Palmerston North Tennis Club

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7103, 11 March 1933, Page 8

Palmerston North Tennis Club

LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY MISS RUTHERFORD

Tho final of the Palmerston North Tennis Club’s ladies’ championship was played at Linton Street yesterday, Miss Rutherford defeating Miss Astlc in straight sets. The conditions could not have been better and although Miss Rutherford scored decisively, it was a hard fought match and an interesting one to watch. The winner took the first set with the loss of four games and the second with tho loss of only one, but the play was much more even than the scores would indicate for it was Miss Astlo who was the enterprising player. In trying to force the game against a player of Miss Rutherford’s calibre, However, she adopted tactics which contributed to her defeat, for Miss Rutherford, except for the few occasions during which she attacked, was content to get everything back, relying on a change of pace and length to draw her opponent into errors. Half way through the second set, Miss Rutherford went into tho net where her crisp volleys and powerful overhead shots were a treat to watch.

Miss Astle soon found the strength of the court and she quickly established a lead of 4 —l. She was driving well to the corners, a wristy backhand shot being much in evidence. Miss Rutherford took the next game and tlion broke through Miss Astle’s service, forcing her opponent into errors or out of position and she rarely failed to punish tho short ones. Miss Astle tried to force the play in tho next game but was missing the side lines and Miss Rutherford, who was content to get everything back, drew level 4 all. Miss Rutherford outdrove Miss Astle in the next game to lead 5 —4 and she then speeded up her play and clinched tho set, Miss Astle netting several returns.

Miss Rutherford was dominating the play and with point-winning drives she took the first game in the second set. Miss Astlo retaliated by breaking through her service. Tho next game was love—4o against Miss Astlo but she retrieved the position, getting her first point with a cross-court drive, the second when Miss Rutherford netted and the third with another cross-court drive which hit tlio net cord and went over. She outed the next two, however, and Miss Rutherford led 2 —l. Miss Rutherford was now going into the net and she took the next game with the loss of one point. Tho following two games- resolved themselves into driving duels, both won by the steadier player, who now led s—l. The next game, which Miss Rutherford took to 30, decided the set and tho match, Miss Rutherford winning 6 —4, (3 —1 .

FINAL OF LADIES’ DOUBLES

MRS. BEATTIE .AND MISS ASTLE TAKE THE TITLE

The final of the ladies’ doubles championship was played by Mrs. Beattie and Miss Astle against Misses Ward and Now, resulting in a win for the former pair, who however were a long time in finding their game, and lost the first set o—(i.0 —(i. In the second set their steadiness prevailed, and they won (i—2. They also won the third set by a similar margin. Of the four players, Mrs. Ward was distinctly the best. She lias not a great variety of shots, but what she has are well played, both on tho forehand and backhand, and her placing is generally accurate. Her partner, Mrs. New, played wits all her usual abandon, but she was unmercifully bombarded by both of her opponents, and though putting in many strong drives, sent too many over the baseline. The New Club Champion The new club champion, D. I. Robertson, well deserved bis success. His match against Malfroy at Mastcrton, when lie won the second set at 12 —10 against the strongest player now in New Zealand, was by far the best thing accomplished during the season by any member of the Manawatu Association, E. D. Andrews of course excepted. Since last season lie has improved greatly in his overhead work and low volleys, as well as his courtcraft. In his match against Brown for tho club championship ho continually got his opponent out of place by a strong drive to the corner, and then killed the return at the net. He is still young and likely to improve. Tho most remarkable thing in the final was the failure of the service, both players having some reputation as servers. Brown only won tuo sciviccs and lost six, a thing that has never happened to him in club competions for several years. Robertson, though more successful, only won six of his service games and lost three.

BUNNYTHORPE v. BULLS

The following players will represent Bunnythorpe against Bulls at Bulls today in the Manawatu Lawn Tennis Association’s competition series: —Misses W. Bobson, E. Bobson, M. Godfrey, Mrs. O. Jackson, Messrs C. Pentecost, 11. Bobson, W. Sutherland and J. Gore. The ear will leave Bunnythorpe at 1 p.m.